Box-covering machine.



J. ALGER.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1913 Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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J. ALGBR.

BOX COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1913,

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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J. ALGER. BOX COVERING MACHINE. APPLICATION PI'LED APR. 21, 913.

1,086,434. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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JOSEPH ALGEB, OF MIDDLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE HALF TQ HIMSELF AND ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR H. ALGER, OF IVIIDDLEBORO, MASSA- crrnsnrrs.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr Anenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middleboro, county of Plymouth, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for covering boxes and particularly to that class of machines which apply the covering to the box in the form of a blank which is folded about the box and attached thereto.

The papering of more than one type of box in a single machine presents a diflicult problem, as the differences in form and the application of the various coverings require a great scope of adaptability in the mechanisms of the machine.

In my former Patent, No. 1,028,421, I disclosed a machine of this general nature, which while eflicient and satisfactory in some respects, was subject to various limitations. To overcome these and to provide additional features of adaptability, which will more fully appear hereinafter, I have devised my present invention.

In my improved machine I have provided a new means for forming the turn in the coveringat the ends of the box, an improved means for turning the paper at the edges, and more latitude for making various adjustments and interchange of parts, as will be more fully disclosed in the specification which follows.

Throughout specification and drawings like numerals of reference will indicate corresponding parts and inthese drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a sufficient part of a box covering machine to illustrate the application and relative positions of my improvements, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the super-structure removed, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are detail sections illustrating the action of the wipers in the covering of the box, Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the use of felt wipers in conjunction with the metal blades 43 of my former patent, and Figs. 6 and 7 are details of part of the folding devices taken from different positions.

The general structure and nature of my present invention has been fully shown and described in my prior patent above mentioned and I have therefore shown in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 21, 1913.

Patented ll eb. 1Q, till 1t.

Serial No. 762,593.

present case only those parts necessary to indicate the nature and application of the improvements.

The machine thus illustrated comprises a bed 1 supported upon legs 2. From this bed rise uprights 3 supporting a frame l on which is mounted for vertical reciprocation a tubular slide 5 in which is slidably contained a placer rod 6 held from turning therein by a set screw 7 mounted in a guide 8 projecting from a support 9 mounted on the frame 4.

A head 13 is adjustably supported on the slide to which are adjustably bolted block supports 14 carrying a block 15. The placer rod carries at its lower end a placer block 16 adapted to fit within a box resting on a support 12 which is adjustable on a thread ed standard 12 by lock nuts 12 The mechanism for folding up the sides and ends about the box includes slideways 21 in which are adjustably mounted slides 22 to which are hinged at 23 the end folders 241 and side folders 25. These folders are operated by the toggles 26 which are operatively connected with one of a line of cams 27 on the main shaft 90 of the machine. The slide 5 is reciprocated by a lever 28 which is rocked by a link 29 from a bell crank 30 controlled by a connection with one of the cams on the main shaft. The placer rod is reciprocated by a lever 32 rocked by a link 33 from a bell crank 3 1 controlled by a connection with one of the cams, the inner end of the lever being pivoted at 86 and having an arm 37 fastened to the rod 6 near its upper end by a collar 38 and set screw 39.

Supporting slideways 4:0 are adjustably mounted on the bed 1 for guiding the end turner slides l1 on which are adjustably mounted end turning arms 42. To these arms 1-2 are adjustably attached blades d3 carrying felt wipers 4L3. Said blades through the slot 14 and bolt 41-5 may be set at any relative angle to the arms which are capable of adjustment on the slides 41 by means of the slots as and bolts 47. The slideways 40 have at their lower ends plates 10 slotted at 40 in which slots are set bolts 49 tapped in to the bed 1. By loosening the bolts 4-9 the slides may be laterally adjusted to any position within the limits of the slots 40 The slides 41 at the front and rear of the machine are both operated by the levers 5O pivoted at 51 and rocked from one of the cams on the cam shaft. These connections ust described permit a considerable range of adjustment for all the parts so that the machine may adapt itself to various types of boxes.

Describing now more specifically the folding mechanisms, the folders 24 and 25 support adjustable folder plates 64: and 65 on which slidable blocks 66 are vertically adjustable by means of a tongue and groove connection therewith and are held against movement by set screws 66 (see Fig. 7.) A stud 67 is set in a bracket 70 on the block 66 to which bracket said plate 65 is pivoted at 71 and a spiral spring 68 fastened to an eyelet in said block provides means for yieldingly holding the plates 64 and 65 in the position shown in Fig. 3. The function of the plates 64; and 65 is to press inward, into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, the edges of the blank turned up by the felt wipers 4:3. This positions the edges in the path of the block 15 of the slide to which are attached felt strips 72 whose action is to descend with the slide and brushing past said plates which have already turned the edges of the box horizontally, (see Fig. 3), turn these edges down over the inner wall of the box as seen in Fig. 4, the continued descent of the strips pasting the edges down.

In order to draw up the paper in advance of the folders I attached a belt to the support 12 so as to extend past the ends thereof, being held outwardly in such positions and in advance of the folders by the cords 81 which are attached by springs 82 to the slides 22. This permits a play of the connections and a maintenance of the tension on the belt so that it will advance to the box carrying the paper with a yielding but even tension. The belt therefore catches the folded covering and draws it up against the box end so that as the plate 64 finally bears against the box the covering is all laid in place.

The holder for the box 7 5 is made with sides of some stiff material such as leather which receives the box with its covering blank applied to its bottom and holds it with the blank all turned up at the sides.

In operation, supposing the box to be covered is of the plain type, or a top to be finished in the package end style, the operator takes a box, or top as the case may be, to which a blank has been previously gummed and properly located on the bottom, or on the top in the case of a box top, and thrusts it within the holder which supports the flaps of the blank which are to cover the side in an upright position. The main shaft of the machine is now actuated to set in operation the placing, folding and turning mechanisms. As the machine starts the rod 6 drops under the action of its lever in order to permit the head to properly center the box with reference to the end and side folders. As soon as this is done the side folders 25 swing their yieldingly held plates up into position. The end turners then advance simultaneously from the front and rear of the machine to bring their properly adjusted wipers 43 past the ends of the box to turn in the paper around the end corners folding it and smoothing it neatly. Just as these wipers are withdrawn the end folders 2st swing up to yieldingly press their plates against the ends of the box. It is essential at this point to draw up the paper in advance of the folders. This I accomplish by means of the belt 80. lVith the covering thus laid in place the slide 5 will now descend under the action of its lever and the felt strips 72 carried thereby will brush past the plates 65 and turn down the horizontal edges, the plates yielding to the pressure of the strips, as shown in Fig. 4:. The continued movement of the parts raises the slide and placer rod and the side folders drop back to release the box and leave it free for removal. In operating upon an extension box the movements of the parts are the same as explained above, but the machine in this case is fitted with a different support for the box and blank. This support is shown and described in my prior patent referred to and need only be mentioned here, as it forms no part of my present invention.

Various modifications in the form and construction of my invention, coming Within its spirit and scope, may obviously be resorted to if found within the limits of the appended claims.

What I, therefore, claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a box covering machine, a support for a box, folders adapted to fold a covering material about a box on said support, a yieldingly mounted edge turner on each folder to project the material over the edges of the box, and a flexible impenetrable member reciprocating in the line of said box support to press the projecting material against the inner walls of the box.

2. In a box covering machine a box support, folders operatively mounted to fold a covering material about a box on said support, plates on each folder yieldably supported to normally project over the edges of said box, a plunger reciprocating in the line of said box support, and a flexible impenetrable member on said plunger to press the material projected by said plates against the inner walls of the box.

3. In a box covering machine a box sup port, folders operatively mounted to fold a covering material about a box on said sup port, plates on each folder yieldably mounted to normally project over the edges of said box, a plunger reciprocating in the line of said box support, and a flexible impenetrable member on said plunger formed of interlaced fibers of fine texture to press the material projected by said plates against the inner Walls of the box.

I. In a box covering machine a box support, folders operatively mounted to fold a covering material about a box on said support, plates on each folder yieldably supported to normally project over the edges of said box, a plunger reciprocating in the line of said box support and having an element to center the box on said support, and a flexible impenetrable member on said plunger to press the material projected by said plates against the inner Walls of the box.

5. In a box covering machine in combination With folders to fold a covering material about a box, end turners carrying Wipers to turn up the corners of the material about the box, folder plates pivotally connected to said folders and under flexible control to project the material over the corners of the box, and a reciprocating member having a felted member to press the material proj ected by said folder plates against the inner Walls of the box.

6. In a box covering machine in combination With folder devices for folding a covering about a box, a block adjust-able on each device, a bracket on said block, a stud set in said bracket, a connection yieldingly joining the free end of said stud to said block, a folder plate pivoted to said bracket, and a reciprocating member carrying a felt strip adapted for contact With said plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH ALGER.

Witnesses VICTORIA LoWDnN, VERA E. Foes.

Goplea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." 

